On the playground

Discovering Joy: a Journey Inspired by the World of Kids

As many of you know, my art project, “Make Labels a Work of Art,” is founded on two fundamental values:
F U N  and S I M P L I C I T Y. 

Why those two values?

When I finished my studies, I soon started to work and have my independent adult life: rent a house, pay the bills, save money for travel, go to the grocery—at the same time, trying to be a good partner, a good friend, and a good daughter. All those things in a single day, all those responsibilities on a single person. At the end of the day, in my bed, I often asked myself: “Is this the game of life?” “And what do we win at the end?”

I observed more of the people next to me, and I felt that somehow, in our homes, in our beds, sadly alone, we were searching for the same answers.

The years pass for all of us, and it’s as if the natural, uninhibited joy we had as children begins to fade, overshadowed by the weight of responsibilities and complexities. We find ourselves asking, why don’t we smile at life as effortlessly as we once did?

In recent years, I’ve had the privilege of closely observing children. I’ve spent time watching and playing with them, and my heart, without fail, lightens in their presence. It’s with them that I’ve discovered where true happiness resides—in the simplicity of small things that are, in reality, never small and never mere “things.”

Children, I’ve come to believe, are the most remarkable beings I have the fortune to encounter in my life. They embody the very essence of joy, their laughter and curiosity illuminating the world around them. 

They are my teachers, my guru, my everyday source of inspiration.
Today, for me, it’s impossible to imagine a world truly brimming with happiness without the vibrant, unfettered spirits of children.

And so I dedicated an entire collection to them. It is called “On the Playground.” 

It all started with a thought, then, as if by some kind of magic, abandoned toys began to appear around me—a colorful castle forgotten on the beach, a superhero drawn on the sidewalk, a pink toy car left on the street, a lollipop given as a gift. It was as if the world itself was extending an invitation to me: an invitation to become a child once more.

“On the playground” is more than just art; it is the real art of playing, which you understand is the art of living. It is the art of dreaming, which, you know, is the art of making dreams come true. 

So, let’s embark on this journey together and rediscover the magic that exists in the world of children—the magic of simply being and of smiling at life once more!